You're not trying to get anything under the weatherstrip on the hard top, you're trying to get under the soft top lid.

If you pop the latches at the windshield and on the sides, then use the large crank handle (it looks like a window handle on a car without power windows) to release the soft top lid, you'll get about 1 1/2" of space at the front of the soft top lid to work in. That's enough to get a large screwdriver (or something else long and stiff) in to hold down the soft top bows so you can see the hook and center post. Then come in with something else - I used another long screwdriver - to pull the hook out away from the center post.

If you just let it go at this point, it'll snap back and relatch the hard top. While you're pulling the hook away from the center post, use the window handle crank again and that lowers it. When you're putting the hard top on, this is what pulls the hard top tight against the rear of your car. For this purpose, it pulls the hook too low to catch on the center post. Then, at your convenience, have someone help you take the hard top off the car.